Understanding The Endocannabinoid System and Chronic Pain
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex signaling system found throughout the body. Researchers continue to study its role in many physiological processes, including pain perception, inflammation, mood, stress, sleep, appetite, immune function, and nervous system activity.
The ECS was discovered while scientists were studying how compounds in cannabis interact with the body. That research led to the discovery of cannabinoid receptors and naturally occurring compounds produced by our own bodies, known as endocannabinoids.
For those of us living with chronic pain, the endocannabinoid system is especially interesting because of its role in the way the nervous system processes and regulates pain. Understanding this system can also help explain why researchers continue to study cannabinoids and other ways of influencing the ECS for chronic pain management.
What Is the Endocannabinoid System?
The endocannabinoid system helps the body maintain balance, or homeostasis. It consists primarily of endocannabinoids produced by the body, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes that produce and degrade them.
Two of the best-known endocannabinoids are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
The two most studied cannabinoid receptors are:
CB1 receptors: Found primarily throughout the brain and central nervous system, although they are also present elsewhere in the body.
CB2 receptors: Found largely in immune cells and peripheral tissues, although research has shown their role is more complex than originally believed.
Together, these components form a signaling system that regulates many normal body functions.
The Endocannabinoid System and Pain
The ECS is involved in several processes that can influence the experience of pain, including pain signaling, inflammation, stress responses, mood, sleep, and immune activity.
Researchers are particularly interested in how endocannabinoid signaling may be involved in chronic and neuropathic pain. This doesn’t mean that the ECS is the single cause of chronic pain or that targeting it will eliminate pain. Chronic pain is complex and can involve tissue damage, nerves, the brain and spinal cord, inflammation, emotions, sleep, movement, and many other factors.
Instead, the ECS appears to be one of several systems involved in how the body regulates and responds to pain.
Endocannabinoids and Phytocannabinoids
Endocannabinoids are compounds naturally produced by your body that interact with the endocannabinoid system.
Phytocannabinoids are compounds found in the cannabis plant. Two of the best known are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
These plant compounds can interact directly or indirectly with the endocannabinoid system, which is one reason researchers have studied cannabinoids for pain and other health conditions. However, their effects vary depending on the cannabinoid, dose, formulation, method of use, and individual.
Essential Oils and Terpenes
As an aromatherapist, I find terpenes especially interesting because they are found not only in cannabis but also in essential oils, herbs, fruits, and other plants. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that contribute to a plant’s characteristic scent and flavor.
Some familiar terpenes include linalool, found in lavender and clary sage; limonene, commonly found in citrus oils; pinene, found in pine and other plants; and beta-caryophyllene, found in black pepper and clove.
Researchers continue to study terpenes for their potential biological effects and how they may interact with other plant compounds. This has also led to interest in what is known as the “entourage effect,” the theory that cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds may work differently together than they do individually. Research into this effect is still developing.
Key Takeaways
- The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a signaling system that helps regulate many processes throughout the body.
- The ECS includes endocannabinoids produced by the body, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes that create and break down endocannabinoids.
- The ECS is involved in pain signaling, inflammation, stress, mood, sleep, immune activity, and nervous system function.
- Researchers continue to study the role of the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoids in chronic and neuropathic pain.
- Chronic pain is complex, and the endocannabinoid system is one of several systems involved in how the body processes and responds to pain.
You can learn more information and find more resources on living with chronic pain in our resource center.